Genius Hour Class Project

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Day 1: Intro Genius Hour/ Project Ideas (From survey)
  1. Teachers, please share the results of Genius Hour survey from last week. (see e-mail from Mrs. Poland).
  2. Students, this is just as a reminder that this round of Genius Hour will be a class project, so it is important that everyone is an active member for our journey.
  3. Genius Hour is here - but what is Genius Hour? Watch this video first!
  4. Now watch this Genius Hour Video
  5. Time permitting, begin discussion of the topic(s) you will be working on as an Advisory.

Day 2: Choosing your Advisory's Genius Hour topic(s) and creating an Essential Question
  1. Share the possible topics for your classes advisory topic.
  2. We are going to turn these topics into potential projects, so we need to develop an essential question for each one. But what is an Essential Question?
  3. Watch the essential questions video: __https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfVOIZ2tU8__
  4. Split the class up and have students make essential questions for the two or three different possible topics. These may need to be re-crafted several times in order to create a strong Essential Question. Remember, this is not something that can be answered with a quick google search or a student survey.
  5. Choose the best one to implement, if time allows. Make sure to keep these someplace safe to continue the work next week.

Day 3 :Start Research - KWHLAQ Chart (Fill in KWH for topic)
  1. Review the ideas the class came up with for the Genius Project.
  2. Break into small groups of 3-4. Each group fills out the K, W, and H of the chart here and the teacher will be around to help:
    GENIUS PROJECT KWHLAQ CHART.docx
  3. Pick the best 2 or three ideas and record them on a class KHLAQ chart projected on the screen.


Day 4: How to google Search - getting more from Google pictochart
  1. Each group researches their own two or three questions that they put on the class chart that we started last week.
  2. Student’s research using Google search and fill in the "L" column.
  3. Students refer to this info graph to get more out of their Google searches: https://imiddleadvisory.wikispaces.com/Good+Google+Searches+Infograph
  4. Discuss how to keep track of their info, to keep track of sources, and so they can share it later.

Day 5: Research Continued - Fill in the L
  1. Remember to cite your sources. Where are getting your information? Tomorrow you will share out what you learned so be ready!

Day 6: Share out
  1. Groups Share
    1. Make sure the students are using the i21 microphone when sharing out
    2. Remind audience about being active listeners

Day 7: Finish Sharing what students learned
  1. Groups Share
    1. Make sure the students are using the i21 microphone when sharing out
    2. Remind audience about being active listeners
  2. If you finish early watch __CNN Student News__.


Day 8: Action Plan (Keep it small and manageable)
  1. Now that we have learned …… what will we do?
  2. We want to make the world a better place. We need to do something with what we have learned.
  3. Say to your students: “What we are going to do will depend on the class topic, but it NEEDS to be something that can reach a larger audience than just this class and SHOULD help make the world a better place.”


Day 9: Break up the work and delegate
  1. Say to your students: “In large companies, hundreds if not thousands of people can be working on the same project. At Qualcomm there are over 1000 people working on a design for a new phone. How can that many people work on the same thing?”
  2. Divide up the work! Divide up the work into manageable chunks. Decide how you can chunk up what needs to get done and give smaller groups tasks to do.


Day 10: Work in small groups


Day 11: Work in small groups


Day 12: Progress report
  1. Groups share what they have done and what they need to do.
    1. Make sure the students are using the i21 microphone when sharing out
    2. Remind audience about being active listeners
  2. Re-divide up the work if necessary


Day 13: Work in small groups


Day 14: Work in small groups or Put it all together